A fresh batch of accolades has been introduced to honor the contributions of Black Welsh artists.
The Black Welsh Music Awards aspire to be known as the "Welsh Mobos" – Music of Black Origin Awards – and seek to highlight performers across various genres such as Afrobeats, grime, and reggae. Additionally, they plan to include a category specifically for nominating the best Welsh-language track.
Benji Webbe, the lead vocalist of the reggae-metal group Skindred, stands out as the sole black Welsh musician to claim a MOBO award, which he received for Best Alternative Act at the 2024 awards show.
The accolades have been termed "much deserved" by both creators and organizers.
Webbe mentioned that he believes the Mobos, established in 1996, do not sufficiently honor Welsh talent.
He mentioned that there ought to be a Celtic category.
He mentioned that securing the Mobo award resulted in greater opportunities for the group, such as performing as headline acts at Wembley Arena.
The honor of claiming the Mobo award was delightful. Winning such an accolade bestows global recognition and certainly provides a boost.
The artist from Newport expressed his excitement about the launch of the new Black Welsh Music Awards, emphasizing that it needs to be executed properly.
He stated: "The Black Welsh Music Awards can benefit the community provided [the organizers] handle it properly—they must ensure they conduct thorough research to identify those who have been diligently working without a recording contract over the past two decades."
It needs to focus on the underdogs rather than being a self-congratulatory affair where everyone pats each other on the back.
Every person who receives a nomination should be celebrated, not only those who emerge as winners. Simply being nominated is an amazing achievement.
Professor Uzo Iwobi CBE, who co-founded the new awards, stated that it was essential to celebrate the distinct Welsh landscape of Black artists.
She mentioned that they expected MOBO to reach Wales through peripheral events, increased visibility, and promoting Welsh artists. However, this has not occurred as anticipated. Therefore, they are developing their own initiatives from scratch.
She mentioned that the event focuses on "representation, celebration, and heritage."
"The MOBO artists from Wales are forging new paths, and we're extending an invitation for all to join us in this moment. This is our time," she stated.
Molara Awen, a singer-songwriter famous for her role in S4C’s Welsh-language show Gogglebocs, stated that these accolades represent a “highly significant effort” for the musical community in Wales.
As ancient as human existence itself, black music spans from the talking drum to the balafon, and from the kora to the orutu," she stated. "While we often discuss xylophones, harps, and violins, these were predated by numerous instruments over many centuries about which we seldom speak.
Dionne Bennett, who is both a singer and composer, stated that the accolades were more than just rewards; they were also aimed at backing black artists throughout their career journeys.
She mentioned that it's all about constructing the underlying framework.
The inaugural Black Welsh Music Awards will take place in October, and nominations are currently being accepted.
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